My Week in Pictures

I feel like I've done so much this week; yet at the same time, I feel like such a bum! Da City had the greatest weather this week...that's right, beautiful and sunny! I found myself at the beach almost every day this week and it was nice. Anyways, just wanted to share a few pics of how my week went...Enjoy!

Darlingon Book Club
For as long as I can remember, I've always wanted to be a part of a book club. Books are my passion! I've prided myself in building up a library of books that range in genre and am down to choose a good book over a night at the club. When Mrs. Voodoo decided to put one together, I was psyched! Unfortunately, with all the papers I constantly have to correct and with the drama that is my life, I haven't had time to pick up anything. Horrors, I know! Last year, I bought a Book Journal to help me keep track of the latest books I read. I'll be honest, I started many and didn't read them to its end. But with all the transitions and whatnot, I managed to read 11 books in 2006. The number seems so small- it is. Considering when I was out in Minnesota, I would read for days on end...hours on end...shoot, give me a good read and I'll have it done by dinner. But 11 is not so bad...and I'm proud to say that they weren't all chick-flick novels! I had non-fiction in there somewhere... In any case, I finally attended a meeting with the Darlingtons last Sunday(never mind that I didn't ever READ the book...okay, I didn't even GET the book...dammit). We met up for brunch in downtown Emeryville at a place called Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe. Very cool, eclectic-kind-a-place...Green Day has been known to frequent it now and then. Prices are very reasonable and the food is pretty good. Hot chocolate was YUM! I wouldn't mind goin' again...fyi: make a reservation. Thanks Mrs. Voodoo and ladies....next time, I WILL read the book!

Da Meeting Place


Monkey Art


Mommy-To-Be-Again- love the shirt!


Girl Dinner
MonkeyBallz, BFF, and I went to eat at Olive Garden the other night. These two have been stressing out over job interviews and the possibilities of moving out of state, out of country, for over a month. I had thought I was just being invited along for coffee after school, but I ended up helping them with practice sessions. There was one time where I actually got bummed because if, no wait, WHEN they get their new job, that would mean they'd be leaving. There's only a handful of people that I work with that make coming to work each day enjoyable...and they are a part of that group. 'Course, as happy as I would be for them, I'd still feel a sort of sadness on my selfish part. MonkeyBallz (a nickname that I can't even begin to explain- lol!) had an interview out in Boston. If all went well, she'd have the opportunity to teach overseas in Beijing for two years. Lo and behold, she was accepted! She's totally excited - she's young, she's single, and how great will that look on a resume, right? It started to hit her that she'll be gone by summer's end, but I'm so proud of her for making this huge step for her career. As far as BFF is concerned, she's done her share of interviews, was debating between a move to either Vegas or Denver, but has finally decided to stick it a little bit longer in the Bay. Hooray! Her hubby and her are still making a huge transition though- selling their current home and moving to a different city. While the move would've been a great chance to start brandnew, her ties to the Bay are too strong to leave behind right now. Plus, who knows, if it's all part of God's plan for them to stay, I may be ninang again sometime soon...

One of many toasts that night!


BFF, MnM, and MonkeyBallz
Can we have the check, Chuck?


Date with a Dummy

Yes...that is MnM up above, giving mouth-to-mouth to a dummy. We had a refresher course on CPR yesterday and got our re-certification renewed. Now, one wouldn't think that a CPR class could be so fun and enjoyable, but if ya'll were with the group that I was with yesterday, we had a ball! First and foremost, there was a typo on the practice sheet that we had to follow...and y'know me, I will point it out. But the instructor kept reiterating to "read it as is the first time..." OKAY! So this is what I read, "Asses the situation if the scene is safe..." Hello??? ASSES... Does anyone else see that??? Well, after I pointed it out to my group and after I told them that we had to read it as is, we just couldn't stop cracking up! To make matters worse, I busted out my camera and while I am telling BFF to "take me when I'm doing mouth-to-mouth", how come no one told me instructor guy was right behind me?! LOL..."having fun, ladies?" Boy...talk about embarrassing! (and btw: I DID point out the typo to the instructor and he thought it was hilarious because he has been using the exact sheet for over a year and NO ONE has pointed that out- LOL! Well, that's what you get when you're in a room full of teachers...)

Anyways, this is just FYI- the numbers have changed when it comes to CPR. Originally, to administer adult CPR, it was 15:2 - that is, do 15 chest compressions to 2 breaths of air.

The new ratio is now this: 30:2 - 30 chest compressions to 2 breaths of air. This is the same for adults and children (ages 8 and up).

Why the change? Chest compressions are all about getting circulation of air going through the body again, but studies have shown that the circulation JUST gets started by the 12th or 13th compression. By doing 30, the body is more likely to get what it needs. There are other studies, too, that say if someone just does chest compressions (without giving breaths of air), that is doable, too. With all the fear of contracting any infectious diseases such as HIV, those with the knowledge of CPR will choose NOT to use it. Doing chest compressions is better than doing nothing at all. I tell you, after practicing on our dummy the 3rd time around, my arms were exhausted! Plus, I was feeling a tad light-headed, too...from too much laughing, maybe? Lol. As great as it is to have this life-saving skill (and I believe EVERYONE should get their certification), I hope and pray that I will never be called to use it.

Concert by the Beach

Headed to the beach yesterday after work...can I just say again what beautiful weather da city has been getting??? Again, it was crowded with folks lounging around, people watching, doing their thang, etc. As I parked, I was met by the sounds of not only drums, but of an electric guitar, too! A group had brought the whole ensemble of drums, guitar, bass, amps, and was hooked by via their car. They were cool! Their sound was somewhere between rock and reggae...people, myself included, just sat along the wall, bopped our heads, and listened. What a perfect way to spend the day! The music matched the personality of the day. I must've sat there for about two hours and they just played the entire time. Later on, a guy with a flute came in and the addition of that instrument added a neat, yet eerie sound. I noticed that they had copies of a cd they made- would've bought one if I had the cash. I didn't even inquire what the name of their band was called- I just wanted to enjoy it. Kinda reminded me of Green Day and how they started out locally before they made it big. Who knows about this band?


I do tend to stay at the beach late into the night...especially on clear nights. This one came out a tad blurry, but if you can see that white fuzzy image near the lightpole, that was the first star I saw that night. Did I make a wish on it? You betcha'! ('scuse my Minnesota-ness...)

Spring Forward, Fall Back

That's how I remember to turn my clock during Daylight Savings. I tell you, even though it's only an hour difference, it makes my schedule out of whack. Of course I go by the actual time on my watch, but times when I'm at the beach, for example, I go by how high the sun is. As much as possible, I love to watch the sun go down at Ocean Beach. Yes, yes, 'tis not the greatest beach in the city, but hey, it's the only one that's easily accessible.

Yesterday was one of the most beautiful days da city had! The temps were high with a slight breeze in the air...around 2:30pm, it was actually uncomfortably hot. I took my kids out to play and some actually wanted to stay indoors. I drove to the beach and not surprisingly, it was crowded. People were out and about soaking in the sun- walking their dogs, flying their kites, surfing, body boarding, couples hand-in-hand, people playing beach volleyball, futbol, and football...and of course, tons of others who were there to scope out the scenery. Let's take the obviously already high dudes parked next to me blasting their reggae. Every other word out of their mouth was f*ck this, f*ck that, dude this, dude that...I can handle that, but when they do their not-so-subtle stare downs at every passing female AND making a comment about "the booty on that one!", it's almost embarrassing to be even near them. 'Twas entertaining to watch them pick up on these Asian chicks sportin' bikini tops, offer them a hit, and then continue their little party in their 60's-Partridge-family sorta van...'course, the mini-scene where one of the dudes runs out to yak all over the sidewalk was just the best way to impress the girls, I think. Hah! But other than that, it was simply a perfect day to be out. I stayed in my car with the windows rolled down (okay, halfway rolled down on the side where freaky high guys were hangin....), letting the breeze roll through, listening to the sounds, and corrected papers.

But back to my point about Daylight Savings...I wasn't anticipating staying at the beach until 7:30pm, but because it didn't even look like it was close to sunset, I lost track of time. Okay, nevermind that I've got a ton of things to do! By that time, I was hungry and totally feeling a salad. Headed to Stonestown and by parking near Nordstroms, you can't NOT go to Borders...and well, ya'll know how I can get when it comes to books...

OH...hahaha, I can't believe this slipped my mind, but yesterday was one of those, "OH SHIT, I'M LATE!" days...don't you freakin' hate that?! Considering that I was coming from the East Bay and knowing that I have to leave by 5:30am-ish in order to beat traffic and get to school on time, waking up at 7:30am was so not cool. 'Course I still had to get gas (can you believe the price?! I got it for $3.19/gallon, but in the city, it averages around $3.27/gallon....CRAZINESS!) and coffee...so by the time I actually got on the road, it was past 8am. And to make matters worse, this week at school is standardized testing. Because I was late, I missed out on valuable testing time for the kids and am now behind schedule. But with all of those factors and considering what day it was, it was surprisingly a pleasant, hassle-free day.

Today is your birthday and I'm wondering how you are. Our life together almost seems like it never happened and it's sad to think that a man I vowed to spend the rest of my life with is but a stranger to me now. What do you wish for today? For me, I wish you happiness, but most of all, my wish for you is to face your fear. Your fear is letting people in and of allowing people to see the real you. And the problem with that is that you've lost touch and reality of who you really are. Even YOU don't know yourself- the person staring back at you in the mirror is only the picture you painted for yourself to cover up lie after lie- you became someone else. How could I have known you if you didn't and still don't know yourself? Who are you and what part of you did you allow me to know and see? Which part was real? I went to the beach today to escape the reality that is my life and ours, and the first thought that came to mind as I saw the waves was you. However turbulent, inconsistent, unsteady they were, however fierce, bold, strong, or calming, you will always equal waves to me. You were such a huge part of my life and now you're gone. Do you still wonder about me like I wonder about you? Do you still remember my daily routines, what I do when I get up or what I do before I go to sleep? Because I still remember yours and as much as I try and get them out of my head, I can't. What is the one wish that you're wishing for today? Whatever it is, I wish it for you, too...

Screwed-Up Recipe


Finally got the James Blunt cd...been wanting it for some time now. Got the 2-disc set that includes the live concert. I dig this guy. Some of his songs totally inspire me to learn piano better and to keep practicing with the guitar. Now if only I had a singing voice...

It took my terrible Thursday for me to really listen to his cd. Spent some hours at the beach to think...think, listen, write, wallow, and think some more. There's not just one song that speaks to me, but I have to say...

James Blunt music + shitty day at work + emotional drama for yo' mama + pent up feelings + frustration of current living situation + stress due to the big D... all of it equals a freakin' screwed up recipe that involves a lot of tears. As Sha told me, it wasn't a James Blunt day...but I tortured myself and listened anyways.

Add into the mix the updated PostSecret. The site is updated every Sunday and I swear, as I read each secret, whether real or not, I can somehow relate to it. I feel the pain, the sorrow, the hurt, the joy, and whatever emotions they bring. In so many ways, perhaps I read through them for selfish purposes to remind myself that my shit ain't nothing compared to other people's drama. Sometimes they're enough to bring me to tears and I swear, I get humbled. I cry for me, for them, and whoever else can relate...and that's such a freakin' big burden to carry and I can only imagine how free those people must feel to let those secrets out.

But listening to this gets me goin' for some reason...



"(Oh no) Oh lately it's so quiet in this place
You're not 'round every corner
(oh no) Oh lately it's so quiet in this place
So darlin' if your not here haunting me
Im wondering...

Whose house, are you haunting tonight?
Whose sheets you twist? Whose face you kiss?
Whose house, are you haunting tonight?

(oh no) I dont think much about you anymore
You're not on every whisper, oh
(oh no) I dont think much about you
But if you're not lurking behind every curtain
I'm wondering..."

Oh Lately It's So Quiet
-Ok Go

FYI: Jude Law alert!

Sexy man alert! The Holiday is coming out on DVD this Tuesday...I am SO there...Best Buy, Target, whatever.

This movie...that man...will totally make up for my terrible week. Oh yes...

My Patience Wanes...

'Tis safe to assume. It's official. Spring Fever has hit! If I look at the calendar, I've got 3 more months of school left....THREE! Three is really nothing. With three months left and so many projects and lessons to teach, I feel like I'm facing the end of the tunnel way sooner than expected. I'm excited for summer to come, yes. No doubt. But I swear, that saying that there are not enough hours in the day is so true! I look at my lesson plan book and see that it's the classic case of "so many lessons, so little time." (Ok, when I originally heard that lil' saying, it said, "So Many Men, So Little Time"...not that THAT pertains to me or anything...lol). As of today, I'm faced with a week of meetings, ITBS testing, mounds of papers to correct, and report cards. Ugh...report cards.

But let's talk about my kids for a sec...

Sometimes, I just don't understand 'em. Take this week, for example. Every Monday is when I try to set the tone for the week. We discuss what's to be expected for the week, any special activities we may be doing, etc. With our report card period ending, I thought that it was apropos (vocab word!) that we talk about how they are "almost-4th graders." This includes being more responsible, showing self-control in the classroom, and being respectful of others. AND....considering that Friday would be a field trip, if I were them, I'd be on my best behavior. One would THINK they would take that to heart...one would THINK that they'd try and be on "my good list", right??? You'd think.

Think again.

Last Thursday was THE worst day ever. It all began with this pounding headache when I woke up. Nothing seemed to be going right. Now when the students come into the class first thing, they already have a routine they must follow. This routine is nothing new...it's been established since the first week of school and it rarely ever changes. BY THIS TIME, I expect them to know what to do in the mornings. Albeit, it's not all the kids who are CHOOSING to do something else, I also expect the responsible kids to help their neighbors and remind them what they should do. Teamwork, you know?

The entire 3rd grade have been practicing for an upcoming performance this month. It ended about ten minutes before lunch. Instead of going back to the class and knowing that nothing can really be done in that amount of time, I decided to stay where we had practiced and play some songs for them on the piano. I mistakenly thought that they could oblige me with their voices for 10 minutes because they found fooling around, LOUDLY with their friends more appealing. Considering our talk at the beginning of the week AND with our field trip the following day, it really, really, REALLY pissed me off.

So much that I snapped....lectured them for 15 minutes...lost my appetite...and got totally frustrated that I was on the verge of tears! THEN...when lunch was over, I barked at them some more and told them that for the remaining part of the day, I did NOT want to talk to anyone unless it was a life-threatening emergency. It was bad...

So bad that I had my backpack set and ready to go at 2:15pm. Um, my day is over at 3pm. Yah...the kids knew it and I could tell some of them felt bad. But I rarely get that emotionally frustrated with them....to be on the verge of tears??? They chose the wrong day to piss me off, that's all I gotta say. Come 3pm, as soon as their afternoon teacher walked in, I walked out. I didn't even say goodbye to them...

For the record, I totally L-O-V-E this class. It almost feels like my first year of teaching again. I have been blessed with a great set of kids each year and while there are always challenges to deal with (behavior, parents, academics, etc), I could honestly say that I've enjoyed 'em all. This class, in particular, cracks me up on a daily basis. Something totally different this year is that usually, I have a lil' following of girls who are constantly around me...at my desk, at recess, anytime there's free time, I'd have little girls around me. Not this year. This year, it's boys! And my boys LOVE to share....LOVE to talk....and LOVE to tell jokes. I've got a bunch of standup comedians in my class! Take this one kid in class...after we discussed our field trip, their grade, what could've been done better on their part, I wanted to go outside and enjoy the rest of the afternoon playing outside. Everyone has their head down and is waiting for me to call their table to line up, when here's this one kid who shoots his hand up in the air. Knowing that our discussion could go on and on, I say, okay, this is the last comment and we'll talk more about the field trip on Monday. I call on my student and in a loud voice he says,

"So Superman walks into this bar, right?".....

See what I have to deal with??? LOL! Well, the following day, aka our field trip, there was a pile of apology letters. Okay, so the afternoon teacher told them that they had to write them, but some of the things were really sweet. All is forgiven, of course. And happy to say that the field trip went well- beautiful weather, no one was lost, no one got hurt, left behind, and the performance we watched at Herbst Theater was awesome. I really can't stay upset at the kids for too long...I love 'em way too much.

Plus, I KNOW that we will NOT have any more days like that for the rest of the school year...or else. Ha!

Get Plugged

Ya'll may already be in the know about the following people and their sites, but I just wanted to put a plug here in my blog about them.

The first is Happyslip.com. This Christine chick from New York is a production of one (camera, acting, editing, writing, singing) - she puts together these H-I-L-A-R-I-O-U-S videos on YouTube and unlike some of the people just wanting to get some free airtime, hers are actually good! I'm not sure whether this Pinay sista is serious about pursuing comedy or what, but this video venture of hers is definitely an outlet for her creativity. She's got a collection of videos to her name and I kid you not, they are ALL worth watching. For those of us born and raised here in the U.S., I can safely say that our Filipino accents can be totally faked, yah? But Happyslip chick? She SO has it down! (and her impersonations of her mom are hold-your-tummy-from-too-much-laughing funny...) If you go through her vids, she does make a point to say that she ain't trying to make fun of the accent or her family members, etc; rather, it's to show the many daily goings-on of what happens on a typical day. For you computer geeks out there, I thought you might enjoy this...and if you're a James Blunt fan, you'll dig this, too.


Two words: hella talented.

Also gotta mention Josh Verdes. Came across this Pinoy brother from a Happyslip production! He is on the up-and-up, trying to get a cd of his music out, but on his website, you can hear a few of his very own original songs. He plays acoustic guitar as well as the electric, and I guess you can say that I was totally drawn to him because yours truly has been venturing in teaching herself how to play. (Quick sidenote- I bought an acoustic guitar for $100 back in '99...fiddled with it back and forth for a bit, but when I moved to MN, left it behind....hold up, did I tell this story already??? Aiya...anyways, fast forward to today, I've been inspired (again!). I've already developed some nasty calluses on my fingers, but I am far from mastering the finger flexibility thing...me and my short fingers! OH......I also bought myself a UKELELE! J and Rho- ya'll gotta show me what you know! More on that later...)

Anyways, Josh Verdes, another talented brotha, is DOPE. I dig his songs and he actually does a video of where he tries to teach you the chord progressions of one. What's funny is, he says he doesn't even know the names of the chords! (Almost reminded me of Phoebe in Friends where she's trying to teach guitar...). He also lists the many artists that he digs and it ranges from R&B to the alternative Christian rock like Chris Tomlin and the David Crowder Band, who btw, are AWESOME to listen to...ya'll don't have to be Christian to dig the sound- lol. The song that was on the Happyslip video is called "Home"- it has that make you feel good sound...makes me think of the good old days and just being with family. If you check out his website, do watch his other videos...he does some electric guitar, too. Man...to be so musically inclined....some people make me sick with envy! Seriously...this dude is someone to watch out for. *I couldn't figure out how to post the his YouTube vid here, so ya'll just have to check out his site!*

If you got the time (and if you're reading my blog, you DO have the time!), check these two out...'tis always good to see some talented Pinoys trying to make it big out there, yah? Spread the word!

MnM Gallery

*Sunset pics taken at Lake Merced.



*Random white flower and pink cherry blossom



*Belated Happy Chinese New Year!
Year of the Pig

Kuya Sam, I Miss You...

I hope you know how much you meant to me
And how I loved bein' your lil' sis...

Your infectious smile, that hearty laugh
The eyes that spoke so much without words...

I wish we had more time together
I wish you had more time-
I wish I could've been there for you during your last moments
To hold your hand and whisper in your ear that everything will be ok.

Everything that happens in this life happens for a reason.

I had to see you...I needed to see you.
Did you hear me talking to you today
About all that's come to pass since the last time we spoke?
But as I look back, all the drama seems so trivial now.
Your passing is a reminder that life is too short
And that none of it should be wasted on mindless shit...

You came to me in a dream and
The high that I felt was indescribably you.
I didn't see you among the faces, but I knew you were there-
And you were happy and at peace.

I miss you, but I'm going to hold you in my heart always.
I feel lucky to be among the chosen to have been graced
By your presence and your friendship...know that.
From the Barangay and Larawan days..and then finally to Likha-
You never stopped being the big brother you promised to be
And for that, I will always be eternally grateful.

*Rest in peace, Kuya Sam...I'll be seein' you again someday...

And as VJ from KP said,
"Fly free, my brother...and dance with the angels..."

------------------------------------------------
This week has been so surreal. Kuya Sam's passing hit me like a ton of bricks. I knew that he had surgery a few years back...in fact, the last time I heard from him was via IM when I was living in Minnesota. He told me that it had been life-threatening, but thankfully, he pulled through and was fine. I remember feeling scared. While I know that no one is immune to sickness, it always seems so brutally unfair when it's someone so young. He was only 37 years old.

It wasn't a question of whether or not I was going to fly down for the funeral services; rather, it was a question of when. As I walked into the mortuary, I automatically tried to brace myself for the emotions I knew I would feel, but when I saw him, I was overcome by a deep sadness. But then, I saw that he was dressed in a New York Yankees jersey and I thought, how totally Sam! And it made me laugh...and throughout the eulogies, that's all we did. Of course there were tears that were shed, but the countless stories truly reflected Kuya Sam's fun-loving personality. It was exactly how I think he would've wanted us to remember him...not with tears of sadness, but with tears that come from laughing so hard that our stomach hurts.

I believe that he is in a better place, free of sickness and pain. I know that he's up in heaven having a good ole' time, sharing laughs with the Big Guy, checking out for any cute angels, and dancing in the ultimate club in the sky.

Lastly...I just had to add...I swear, he will forever be, in my mind, Janet Jackson's #1 fan! LOL! (*cue in Janet Jackson's "If")

"If I was your girl
Oh the things I'd do to you
I'd make you call out my name
I'd ask who it belongs to
If I was your woman
The things I'd do to you
But I'm not
So I can't
Then I won't
But
If I was your girl"

Ahhhh...the PCN that will forever be seared into my memory.....LOL! Get your dance on, Kuya Sam!

*Sam Largo January 21, 1970- February 18, 2007*